Plextor Plexwriter 16/10/40A

THE GOOD:
Good performing drive, when it works!

THE BAD:
Terriable RMA policy

SUMMARY:
My 16/10/40A was an excellent performing drive, until the spindle motor broke. Not a big problem, it is covered under the warranty. However I was not at all pleased with Plextor's RMA policy. Below is their policy and my response to Plextor's public relations department.

This is an automated response. Plextor has received your RMA Request form.
We will process your request within 2 to 4 business days. Turn around time
for drives received at Plextor is 10 to 14 Business days from the time the
drive arrives at Plextor.
Thank you for your patience


To whom it may concern,

Plextor has the most asinine RMA policy I have ever had the displeasure of experiencing. An RMA number should be issued immediately once a drive is determined to be defective by a Plextor Support rep. If the customer has a credit card for insurance, then a new drive should be cross shipped overnight to that customer. This is the RMA proce...

THE GOOD:
I'M NOT SURE.

THE BAD:
IT WILL NOT RECORD AT 16X WITH CD CREATOR PLATINUM. I'VE FRIED A HALF DOZEN DISKS. SO MUCH FOR "BURN PROOF"

SUMMARY:
I JUST BUILT A NEW COMPUTER BASED ON THE IWILL KK266+RAID. AMD 1.33 WITH 266FSB. I'M USING 2 IBM 60 GIG HARD DRIVES. I DECIDED TO SWITCH TO PLEXTOR, FROM YAMAHA WHICH I HAVE 3 WORKING PRESENTLY. THE DRIVE IS VERY NOISY WHEN LOADING SOME SOFTWARE. IT SEEMS TO RECORD OK WITH THE LIMITED SOFTWARE DIRECTLY FROM PLEXTOR. I CANNOT GET IT TO BURN A GOOD AUDIO OR DATA DISK WITH CD CREATOR PLATINUM 5.02B. I AM ABOUT TO TAKE IT BACK AND GET THE NEW YAMAHA.

THE GOOD:
I can't be more pleased about this drive, surpass all my expectations. This drive can handle it all, from burning mp3's, backing up, music CD's, etc. In fact, I tried SO hard to get this thing to make an error. Running multiple browsers, playing music, having other applications running, and playing a game...totally nuts, all this while burning a music CD. Perfect! Software is easy, no compatibility problems, fairly quiet, and VERY quick! Can easily burn a full CD within 5 minutes or less. I mean, it has it's own built in cooling fan because it burns so fast. Totally awesome! Can't beat BURN-Proof Technology! I don't think any drive can duplicate the technology (Yamaha's top of the line burner can still make mistakes at very high speeds)

THE BAD:
Haven't ran into anything bad, I heard tech support isn't great, but never had to use them, who needs them anyhow?

SUMMARY:
You can easily find this drive for around $150, maybe better. Definitely worth the price, you'll get a solid dri...

THE GOOD:
Fast, solid construction, works with every burning software I've tried, and the(heh heh) jumper hack.

THE BAD:
You gotta have some bucks to afford it...

SUMMARY:
Save up for this drive, it is more than worth it. The fastest ripping and burning money can buy. Much less buggy than the first incarnation of the Yamaha 16x10x40 and reads CDs where the Yamaha had trouble. (I haven't installed any later Yamahas so I don't know if they ever fixed the problems). Works like a champ with Easy CD Creator (v4.03b and v5), Nero v5.0.3.8, and Acoustica's CD Burner 1.06 trial. Haven't tried MusicMatch yet, but that's next.

Also features an unsupported jumper on the back that allows the drive to run hardware DMA (reduces CPU cycles the drive uses while reading or writing) -- cool!